Education
University of Exeter – St. Luke’s Library
A sensitive and uplifting refurbishment that gives a historic library a fresh and modern learning environment
3 Floors
17 Weeks
12,000 Sq Ft
The Challenge
St Luke’s was founded in 1854 as a teacher training college and remains an active academic community through the School of Education. The campus has a long history of research and teaching with growing activity in health and wellbeing. The library is used constantly by students and academics, so the refurbishment needed to be delivered quickly with minimal disruption. As a heritage building, the design also had to respect the original character and fabric.
The Solution
We worked with the estates and library teams to understand their goals and shaped a design that supported study, comfort and flow. The solution refreshed the library while keeping the heritage character intact. The new layout improves movement, study choice and the overall feel of the space.
The Result
Students and academics are delighted with the refurbished library, which now supports focused study, quiet reflection and group work with ease.
The University of Exeter is a leading institution with strong academic performance and a growing reputation for research across science, health, humanities and education. St Luke’s Campus plays a key role in training teachers, supporting medical studies and developing future professionals. The library is central to campus life and needed a space that reflects this importance.
A Layout Students Love
The new flexible layout has been well received by students, who enjoy improved movement, comfortable spaces and stronger support for digital study. The refreshed environment encourages longer and more productive study sessions.
Study Zones Shaped Around Behaviour
The refurbished library is now zoned across three levels to support different study needs. Level zero offers group study. Level one provides quiet study. Level two offers silent study. This clear structure helps students choose the right environment for their work.